Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 3, 2025) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands is pleased to announce the appointment of Dan Haroun to its Board of Directors.Mr. Haroun brings more than 15 years of senior leadership experience in the food, retail, and restaurant industries, with a proven track record of scaling brands and driving financial performance at both private and publicly traded c ...

Core Insights - L'Oréal is the largest beauty company in the world, being 1.5 times larger than its closest competitor and three times larger than the third-largest player in the industry [3]. Company Overview - L'Oréal's size provides significant advantages, allowing for scaling of acquisitions and licenses, such as those with Prada and Valentino, both of which have sales exceeding EUR 0.5 billion [3]. - The company boasts 12 out of its 37 international brands as billionaire brands, with several more on the verge of joining this elite group [3]. - L'Oréal's scale also enhances its capacity for innovation within the beauty sector [3].

Core Insights - Marimekko's net sales increased by 5% in Q1 2025, reaching EUR 39.6 million, driven by growth in wholesale sales in Europe and retail sales in Finland [6][10][11] - The company anticipates net sales growth for 2025, with a comparable operating profit margin estimated at 16-19% [3][18] Financial Performance - Net sales for Q1 2025 were EUR 39.6 million, compared to EUR 37.7 million in Q1 2024, marking a 5% increase [5][6] - International sales rose by 14%, contributing to 53% of total net sales [5][11] - Operating profit decreased to EUR 4.3 million from EUR 5.1 million, with a margin of 10.8% [5][12] - EBITDA for Q1 2025 was EUR 6.7 million, down from EUR 7.4 million in the previous year [5] Market Dynamics - Retail sales in Finland grew by 9%, but total net sales in Finland decreased by 3% due to lower non-recurring promotional deliveries [11][12] - The company faced challenges from timing-related factors affecting net sales development, particularly in licensing income [6][22] Strategic Initiatives - Marimekko plans to open approximately 10-15 new stores in Asia in 2025, focusing on international growth [20][21] - The company is enhancing its omnichannel retail network, with new store openings and a franchise partnership in Canada [16][17] Future Outlook - The company expects continued growth in international sales, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, despite uncertainties in the global economy [19][20] - Fixed costs are projected to rise in 2025, influenced by general cost inflation and increased marketing expenses [23]